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Parker boys celebrate first victory

MADISON — Still searching for a win—any win—this season, Janesville Parker High School’s boys basketball team built up a big lead on the road, then uncomfortably watched it evaporate almost as quickly as it was earned.

However, the Vikings would not let this one slip away, regrouping and finally walking off the floor as winners.

Parker’s flawless opening quarter produced a quick 13-point lead, and the Vikings hung on for their first victory under first-year coach Ryan Masterson—a 58-53 triumph over Madison West in a Big Eight Conference game here Thursday night.

“We’re a young team, so it’s a building block for next year and the rest of the year,” said Parker guard Jordan Thompson, who led all scorers with 19 points. “The first win is what you’ve got to get to finish strong.”

Forward Jason Knutson, Parker’s lone senior, helped set the tone early with three offensive rebounds that led to seven second-chance points.

Every starter scored in the first five minutes for Parker (1-13, 1-11), staking the Vikings to a 21-8 lead.

“I said to the guys, ‘You’d better come out on fire,’ and they did,” Masterson said after his first career victory.

“Jordan carried us in that first quarter, hitting the boards and setting the tone for us.”

But West (3-10, 2-9) stormed back with a three-point barrage—five by Ricky Jones and four by guard James Horton–and cut Parker’s lead of 14 to 35-28 by halftime. John Harth then a three-pointer for the Regents that tied it at 35-35 midway through the third quarter.

“We got a little nervy because we’re not used to being up like that,” Masterson said.

That’s when Knutson took charge, getting two quick layups to launch a 12-3 run, giving the Vikings a 47-38 lead at the start of the fourth quarter that they would not surrender.

“As a senior, this really means a lot to me to get my first win as a starter,” said Knutson. season. “That’s the most intensity we’ve played with all year.”

It wasn’t always easy down the stretch for injury-plagued Parker, which used only seven players. Thompson scored 17 in the first half —nearly half his team’s points by intermission—but picked up his third foul early in the third quarter and spent much of the second half on the bench.

“Watching your team out there while they’re coming back on us is pretty hard,” Thompson said. “But then our guys stepped up, taking the lead and never looking back. Just a team effort.”

West had one last gasp in the final minute. Jones’ fourth three-pointer of the fourth quarter cut Parker’s lead to 56-53, and when the Vikings threw a pass out of bounds with 30 seconds left, the Regents had a chance to tie.

But Jones and Horton both missed badly on three-point tries. Parker forward Creed Knutson hit a free throw, and forward Tyler Teubert grabbed a steal to ignite the long-awaited celebration.

“I was confident that we would win this game, and I told them that,” Masterson said. “We could have packed it in, saying here we go again, but we settled down and battled.’’

“It feels great.”

PARKER 58, WEST 53

Parker (58)—Simonson, 3-0-6; Thompson, 5-7-19; Teubert, 7-3-17; J Knutson, 3-0-6; C Knutson, 3-1-8; Husen, 0-2-2; Anderson, 0-0-0. Totals: 21-13-58.

West (53)—Green, 2-1-5; Horton, 4-0-12; Harth, 2-0-5; Jarvis, 2-3-7; Simon, 0-1-1; Armstrong, 1-0-3; Irby, 1-0-2; Jones, 6-0-17; Golden, 0-1-1; Reynolds, 0-0-0; Bester, 0-0-0. Totals: 18-6-53.

Janesville Parker 21 14 12 11—58

Madison West 8 20 10 15—53

Three-point goals—Parker 3 (Thompson 2, C Knutson), West 11 (Armstrong, Horton 4, Jones 5, Harth) Free throws missed—Parker 8, West 5. Total fouls—Parker 10, West 22. Fouled out—None.

Sophomores—West 62, Parker 49.